CHART: The Bloodbath in Biotechs Could Spell Major Trouble Ahead

In response to a controversial report released last week in which former hedge fund manager-turned-pharma CEO, Martin Shkreli, raised the price of a life-saving drug from $13.50 to $750 a tablet (or 5,500%) overnight (and in the process raised the cost of treatment for some patients to hundreds of thousands of dollars), Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted her plans to take on the growing problem of price-gouging by Big Pharma.

Almost immediately, drug company stocks began to tank. And the selloff continued for several days.

Last week, our trading community was alerted to numerous biotech stocks flashing new sell signals in our Nightly Trading Report (which is updated with new buy and sell signals each evening.)

On Friday alone, four stocks that we had issued sell signals on dropped approximately 10%.

Those traders who purchased put options on these stocks made even more on Friday.

Fast forward to this week and the selloff in biotech stocks has turned into an absolute bloodbath.

While some are viewing the selloff in pharma and biotech stocks as a golden opportunity, I am not so sure. Since the Fed-fueled rally in U.S. stocks commenced in 2009, healthcare-related stocks, like biotech, have been one of the leading sectors. As you can see in today’s chart above, the iShares Biotech ETF has soared more than 400% since our trading system first issued a long-term buy signal on biotech stocks back in July 2009.

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Now, at the end of September 2015, our system shows that this same biotech ETF is nearing its first long-term sell signal in more than six years.

One thing I have learned over the years as a trader is to watch the sectors and industry groups that lead the market’s primary trend. When the leaders begin to fail, the overall market can lose steam in a hurry.

We have already seen major weakness in the energy, basic materials, and industrial sectors. And until now, the healthcare sector has held up well.

But that may be about to change. And if it does, we could be at the beginning of a major bear market.

The price collapse that still lay ahead in biotechs — and the overall stock market — could be epic.

Be advised.

Until next time,
Jerry Robinson